Friday is a special night as many seniors will be honored at the football game against Lubbock Coronado. The Rider Chronicle sat down with JROTC battalion commander Arianna Menden to talk about the organization and plans for the future.

Q: How long have you been in JROTC and why have you stayed this long?

A: I’ve been in ROTC for four years now. I’ve mainly stayed because I enjoyed it because of the leadership opportunities and everything. It’s fun. My freshman year, the leaders there were really inspiring and motivated me to do better. So I pushed and wanted to get more done and  just made it fun for me.

Q: What makes JROTC special for you? 

A: Mainly the leadership opportunities and the extra teams and everything. It’s fun.

Q: What do you want to accomplish your senior year, both personally and within JROTC? 

A: Overall I’m wanting to be a better leader like the ones that were there my freshman year and sophomore year, just in the organization and outside of it.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of JROTC?

A: Probably the trips, honestly. Like when we go to the mountains and everything. It’s just really fun because we’re in groups and we have walkie talkies and it’s fun. I like those, it’s probably my favorite. 

Q: What will you miss once you leave?

A: I’ll miss the people there because they’re all hilarious. They’re funny people, and they’re unique. I’ll miss the people the most.

Q: What have you learned as a member of JROTC? 

A: I learned to come out of my shell a lot because I used to be really quiet and don’t talk to anyone, but I’ve been a lot more open and outspoken since I’ve been in JROTC.

Q: How have you changed since your freshman year and why? 

A: Mainly (more open). Just because I had to though because to be a leader, you have to take initiative. 

Q: What do you want to do after high school? Why? 

A: After high school I would love to be in music performance just because I love music.

Q: Last message to your team. What do you want them to know? 

A: Just to keep working hard. Just to motivate other people to go long, to grow our program. That’s what I would say.